小兔兔乖乖 crying bunny

我心血来潮要给妹妹看一些中文的动画，在iPhone的YouTube 上找到好些个经典的动画（我童年的回忆呀：）。看到‘小兔兔乖乖’，妹妹每看一次，就大哭一场，还不停的要看。哭到伤心处，要把家里的每一个小兔子抱一遍，不停的哭，还给小兔子说着什么。

一直搞不清楚她在哭什么，是怕大灰狼吗？好像不是，看到大灰狼的时候并不哭，是到了结尾妈妈回来时，好像委屈了很久放声大哭。

从昨天开始，哭了近十次了，今天晚上我要把她录下来，可是镜头前的妹妹勇敢的没有哭，虽然不停的瘪着嘴，努力的不哭。



I shown Mei some classic Chinese nursery rhymes over the weekend. There is a particular song about a bunny who stayed at home and refused to open the door to a big bad wolf, and waited till mommy rabbit coming home. Mei cried each time she watched, and insisted watching many times.

So she cried a lot times this weekend. I gathered it is not about the fear of the bid bad wolf, but rather how a little bunny has to stay at home by herself and mommy only comes back at the end of the day, because she doesn't cry when the big bad wolf comes, but only wails when mommy rabbit comes home.

My sensitive girl...

Tonight, I wanted to record her crying, but she held back her tears in front of the lens. It was only after I turned off the camera, that she couldn't hold it any more. and I took a few shots...

在镜头前用力地憋着的妹妹，在我关了录像机后终于憋不住放声大哭，没同情心的妈妈又马上开了相机。。。

Accountability 一只球

For a wonderful mum who consciously instills the right value of accountability:

* Raye played soccer with Han Jin at the playground.
* Raye did a high kick and the green ball went into fenced construction site.
* Both kids went to the construction site the next day, but couldn’t find the ball.
* Raye went to a mall with mom and used his pocket money to buy a bright new yellow ball.
* Raye didn't bring enough cash and borrowed $2 from mommy.
* Raye counted four 50cents from his piggy bank and returned mommy the $2.
* Raye passed the ball to Han Jin, which is bigger and bouncier than our old green ball.

What Raye might have learnt: accountability, disciplined saving, money sense, borrow and return, multiplication 4 times 5.

Then this mommy wants to teach appreciation at bedtime:

* I told Han Jin he needs to appreciate Raye's gesture. He asked why.
* I told Han Jin that Raye bought the ball using his pocket money. He asked 'then what'.
* I have to add more colors: so I told an imaginary story about how Raye was given $2 a day for his school lunch, he ate a plate of chicken rice costs $1.5 and had 50cents left. He can either buy a drink, or save the 50cents. He chose to save. (Han Jin asked why). While, maybe he wants to buy a Beyblade. (Han Jin: he can ask his mommy to buy.) While, he had a few Beyblade, but he wants one more and he had to buy use his own money. Then, he saved for a whole month, with no drinks. Finally, he had the money. But, bang, he kicked the ball, and had to use the money buy you a ball! Gone is his Beyblade.
* I thought he would sympathize. He laughed: what if he saved again and kicked my ball inside the construction site again?
* I got furious: Han Jin, what if it is you who kicked the ball and had to use your entire saving to compensate the other kid?
* He started to weep: I miss my green ball.
* I gave up: sleep now.

致睿和瀚今踢球的时候把瀚今的球踢去了建筑场地，拿不回来了。致睿妈妈坚持要致睿用自己的零用钱买一只球还给瀚今。这是她要教孩子责任感，存钱和理财，顺便还教数学。

我试着教瀚今体会当中的过程，和教他感谢与体恤，但怎么也不得要领。。。

Clementi Mall

We planned to meet Ping's family for a visit to the zoo today. While I went out to buy kids' food, hubby and helper locked the door with keys inside. So change of plan, we cut the trip short to Clementi Mall while helper waited for the locksmiths.

A few thoughts:

About locksmiths: costs $50 to open a lock, after which, the lock looked intact and still can be used. A profession calls for strong integrity and ethics, more so than any other professionals. I wonder how a skilled locksmiths selects an apprentice. Ethics must be on top of the list.

About Clementi Mall:

Awful external design; pleasant interior and all necessary shops; chilling air-con while my kids were in outdoor attire prepared to be in hot sun in the zoo. We didn't managed to stay long, but had a few shots.

本来是打算和胡平家去动物园的，临行发现钥匙被锁在家里了。只好安排好了开锁匠，剩下的时间就近去了新开的金文泰商场。感悟开锁匠真的是很需要职业道德的一门手艺。

The drumming cat

Mei Mei loves 'the drumming cat' from Yamaha 2, and acts to the rhythm.



However, her favorite from the album is the 'Salut d'amour (Love's Greeting)' whereby a dolly misses her little owner who now grows up and no longer plays with her, for which Mei Mei, interprets as Jie Jie misses mummy and flies to look for mummy. After each viewing, she sobs and curls up to me. 'Jie Jie's mummy come back from work already.' 'Mummy hugs Jie Jie, Jie Jie not sad anymore.'

That's probably how she relates. My lovely girl.

小女儿喜欢听哥哥雅马哈的歌，到了‘打鼓的小猫’就会手舞足蹈。可用她自己的话: 最喜欢看姐姐飞去找妈妈。那是一首叫‘Salut d’amour' 的歌， 法语，直译就是‘你好，爱’。故事情节性很强，一个可爱的洋娃娃坐在窗边，窗外的景色由春到冬，年复一年，娃娃灰色的回忆想起小主人刚收到她时抱着她，推她出去玩，抱着她睡；窗外的小主人已经婷婷地拿着公文包；娃娃飞出窗外，和很多玩具一起飞，其他的玩具飞离了地球，娃娃停了下来；穿着婚纱的主人又抱起了娃娃，娃娃的回忆变成了彩色。。。

对妹妹而言，她认为这是个小姐姐找妈妈的故事。刚开始时，每次看完都会哭，现在会缩在我身边说：姐姐找到妈妈了，妈妈下班回来了，妈妈抱抱姐姐，姐姐不哭了。。。

这是她小小心灵的体会。

Road Safety 安全

I was mad at Han Jin just now. I was mad because I love you, boy.

Finished his class at LCentral, one of the classmates waved goodbye to us, and while I urged Han Jin to bid goodbye to his classmate, he let go my hand, and cheekily ran away.

He ran up the stairs, while I was still trying to be nice to the classmate.

He made a turn and headed up another stair. I realised it leads to the main road.

I called out 'Stop!'. I screamed 'S-T-O-P'!. I dashed. I heard a voice of an auntie say :'Hey, boy!"

I ran up the stairs, caught the sight that he made a abrupt brake at the very edge of the road curb, with upper body protruding into the road.

Pulled him back, I reasoned and cautioned in a voice that I couldn't recognise myself. The auntie joined to lecture how dangerous it was and it could be.

He was taken aback, with tears whirling, 'but I stopped.'

I sat at the road side, held him in my arms for what felt like a decade.

放学接瀚今，他在我和他的同学道别的时候，挣脱我的手，跑去路边，及时刹住，但是给我很大的惊吓。。。

- 不要放脱他的手；
- 教育他路边安全；
- 告诉他不要靠近窗户。

我生很大气，因为我很爱你。

Friends 朋友

A day to meet friends.

We went for a buffet lunch at Gallery Hotel with Raye's family. The two girls are growing up together. What I learnt from Jolin today:

- bring a scissor when eat out, which comes in handy to cut the friend for little kids;
- bring something to keep the little tots occupied after they finished their meals while adults get a chance to eat. What she brought today: a coloring book set for the girls and a lego set for the boys.

国庆的午餐和致睿一家去吃河畔一间酒店的自助餐。

晚上庆祝豆豆4岁生日。Happy 4th Birthday, Zi Yan! Look at the mountains of fries I fed Mei. Cecilia Leung is definitely a good mum in my dictionary in terms of junk food.

National Day Parade 国庆庆典

Majulah Singapura! We managed to get 2 tickets this year, thanks to Wan Ying who gave up her ticket. Daddy and Han Jin went to the NDP, came back dead beat, but he commented that this should be one of the things you need to experience at least once in life, probably only once. Too crowded and too hot.

The celebration mood kicked in yesterday, while both kids need to wear National Day attire to school, while both of parents have to be absent from their school events, given it is during month end closing. To complement their attire, I dressed in red and white to work, only to find that I am the odd one.

Last note: New citizens do love this country, care for its future and have a heart to serve.

新加坡46年国庆庆典，好不容易拿到两张票，谢谢万颖让她的票给我。爸爸带了瀚今去，回来精疲力尽。但是仍然认为这是应该经历一次的活动。

新移民一直以来是个课题，放弃原来的国籍并不是感情上容易的事情，之所以会决定移民，是热爱这个岛国的，是关心它的未来的，是愿意回馈社会的。